Chris Stanton. Picture: Tony Gay.

An actor from Crouch End is preparing to tackle a gruelling charity bike ride through the French Alps to raise money to support children with a rare degenerative disease.

Chris Stanton, 30, recently completed a two-year run of performances in West End musical Legally Blonde and has now set his sights on helping to raise £25,000 to support children with Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T).

Mr Stanton, who lives with actress girlfriend Jill Halfpenny in Ferme Park Road, will be setting off on the 215km cycle ride with 15 other fundraisers on June 8.

Mr Stanton said: “The climbs are regularly included in the Tour de France.

“They usually do one a day. We are going to be doing seven in two days.”

The challenge has been organised by Toby Knowles, an acquantaince of all 16 riders, who has a friend with a daughter who has A-T, a rare neurodegenerative disease with no cure, which starts in early childhood, causing severe disability and premature death.

Mr Stanton said: “The money we are raising is going to fund the stem cell research to try to find a cure. It’s so rare the government won’t fund it.”

To donate, visit www.bmycharity.com/ridingthegiantsforAT.